Psychological Treatments for Provoked Vestibulodynia: Integration of Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the effectiveness of mindfulness-based approaches alongside or as an alternative to CBT in treating provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).
Results Summary
The abstract suggests mindfulness has been increasingly used for chronic pain disorders, including PVD, and implies it may help address both pain and psychosexual consequences, though specific efficacy data is not detailed.
Population
Premenopausal women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).
Effective Dosage
Not mentioned
Duration
Not mentioned
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
medications for the treatment of PVD | no change | treatment of PVD | women with PVD | low efficacy | low efficacy and high side-effect profile | #1 |
psychological interventions | neutral | treatment of PVD | women with PVD | - | attention has shifted toward | #2 |
psychological treatments for PVD | decrease | pain and psychosexual consequences | women with PVD | - | targeting both the experience of pain and its many psychosexual consequences | #3 |
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | neutral | treatment of PVD | women with PVD | - | represents one of the most popular first-line psychological interventions | #4 |
Mindfulness | neutral | treatment of chronic pain disorders and PVD | women with PVD | - | increasingly used alongside, or instead of CBT | #5 |
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic and distressing genital pain condition involving sharp pain to the vulvar vestibule with lifetime prevalence as high as 12%. PVD is the most prevalent cause of pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) in premenopausal women, and gives rise to considerable sexual and relational concerns. As intercourse for women with PVD is either painful or impossible, PVD has pronounced negative effects on women's romantic relationship adjustment and sexual intimacy, as well as their emotional well-being and sense of sexual self-efficacy. Given the low efficacy and high side-effect profile of medications for the treatment of PVD, attention has shifted toward psychological interventions over the past decade. Psychological treatments for PVD have the advantage of targeting both the experience of pain and its many psychosexual consequences, such as reduced desire and arousal. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) currently represents one of the most popular first-line psychological interventions for PVD. Mindfulness has been increasingly used alongside, or instead of CBT for a variety of health-related conditions, particularly with respect to chronic pain disorders and more recently in women with PVD. This review provides a detailed overview of CBT and mindfulness-based approaches in treating PVD.